Mental Health Clinicians

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister provide an update to the council on measures to support the mental health of our clinicians in South Australia?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for his question. The structural issues facing South Australia's public health system have rightly received significant public scrutiny in recent years in this place, in the media and in other fora. Running in parallel to this has been the acknowledgement of the consistently high quality services provided by clinicians in the health system. However, the support of others can come at a cost to the individuals who dedicate their time and their talents to treating the sick.

One doctor, Dr Geoff Toogood, experienced this himself when he arrived at work wearing odd socks and received a derogatory comment from a colleague about his mental health. In fact, his puppy had been chewing socks and the two odd socks were worn because they were all that were available. CrazySocks4Docs grew from this experience, a day when crazy socks are worn to remind us all of the high rates of suicidal thoughts and actions among doctors.

Beginning in 2017 in Australia, CrazySocks4Docs spread last year to the United Kingdom, Canada and parts of the United States of America. In 2019, I am informed, doctors in New Zealand, and South Africa will join the growing numbers of nations celebrating CrazySocks4Docs Day. The events are fun, but the message is very serious. The beyondblue National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students of October 2013 shows that the incidence of thoughts of suicide is 24.8 per cent for doctors compared to the general population at 13.3 per cent and other professionals at 12.8 per cent.

The report also found that 21 per cent of doctors reported having been diagnosed with or treated for depression. One of the problems here is culture, the culture within the medical profession itself. Health workplaces are often high pressure environments, but historically there has been an attitude that the workforce should be able to cope with these demands as it is just part of the job.

Anecdotally, senior doctors may see stress as a rite of passage or trial by ordeal. Expectations of seniors, stigma and discrimination are all potential reasons for the medical workforce avoiding coming forward and seeking help. Management, for its part, needs to make sure that workloads are sustainable and safe and that the workforce, medical and other staff, work in an environment in which they can excel and within which they can deliver the best possible care.

In a tribute to both himself as an individual and to the significance of the issue within the medical workforce, Dr Geoff Toogood was presented with the AMA President's Award in Brisbane less than two weeks ago. This morning, I was privileged to attend a breakfast hosted by SASMOA, Doctors' Health SA and the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation to mark the day officially, the first Friday in June—this year 7 June, this coming Friday.

It was an honour that Dr Geoff Toogood, a cardiologist from Victoria, was able to be present at the South Australian breakfast. He spoke with clarity and passion about his lived experience and the need to support doctors and other health professionals under stress with mental health issues. I wore my own crazy socks this morning and I urge not only our doctors but all health professionals and other members of the community to join in marking the CrazySocks4Docs Day this Friday.